ABOUT AND WHO

ABOUT GEST

It's almost too good to be true that we have a professional British theatre group in Gothenburg, producing contemporary British theatre to the highest standard....with the precision in directing and acting that marks out the best of London Theatres' -GT

GEST was founded in 2005 with the aim of providing quality, contemporary and award-winning theatre in the English language.

GEST works with professional actors and directors from Britain and Sweden and aim to produce theatre of the highest standard, which is accessible to everyone. As well as performing in Sweden, GEST also performs internationally and are always keen to collaborate with theatres abroad. We also collaborate closely with schools, colleges and universities, offering specially reduced student prices, workshops and after-show discussions with the actors. (See Teachers' page)

Gothenburg has a large English speaking population and is the home to a variety of nationalities where English is the second language. GEST also seeks to cater for these people, who may long for an enjoyable night at the theatre.

At present nearly all the great English speaking plays that are performed in Gothenburg are translated into Swedish. GEST are proud to be able to show the plays in the language that they were originally written.GEST is a non-profit making organisation, and all proceeds go to keeping GEST running.

Kristina Brändén Whitaker - Executive Artistic Director

Kristina is GEST's Executive Artistic Director, director and an actress with extensive experience in theatre, television and film both in Sweden and internationally.

Her playwright debute Expectations, in which she also played Klara, won the Fringe Award for Outstanding Theatre at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010.

Kristina is from Gothenburg but spend 13 years in London where she trained as an actress at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama. She has worked as an actress in various theatres in both the UK and Sweden. Her Television and film credits includes; the Swedish-Danish TV series Bron (The Bridge) for SVT, the international IFTA winning feature film As If I am Not There(Stella Nova Films/Wideey Films), Steven Spielberg's Band of Brothers, Peter Birro's award winning SVT drama How Soon is Now (Upp till Kamp) and SVT's award winning Sanningen om Marika. Moste recently, Kristina directed Yen for GEST and in GEST's previous productions she has acted in The Events, Belongings, Foxfinder, My Romantic History, Cock, Expectations, Contractions, After The End and After Miss Julie.

Gary Whitaker - Co-Artistic Director

Gary Whitaker is an actor, director and the Co-Artistic Director of GEST. He has directed many of GEST's productions including Expectations, the winner of The Fringe Review Award for Outstanding Theatre. His international directing experience includes; The Young Vic London, The Contact Theatre Manchester, The Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh. As an actor he has worked all over the world with highly respected writers and directors including Lars Von Trier, Alan Aykbourn, Max Stafford- Clarke and Anand Tucker. His theatre credits include; leading roles in London's West End, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court, Royal Exchange, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Out of Joint. His TV and film credits include; the multi award-winning The Arbor, Melancholia, The Red Riding Trilogy, The Gathering, Wire in the Blood, Vincent, Waterloo Road, Sunday, In Deep, Heartbeat, The Vice, Holby City, three series of The First of the Summer Wine for BBC and Isprinsessan and 183 Dagar for SVT.Most recently Gary directed Jag var här först by Kristian Hallberg for Folkteatern. For GEST Gary has directed: My Romantic History, This Wide Night, Expectations, Contractions and The Collecter. He has acted in GESTs productions; Constellations,Cock, Stones in His Pockets and After Miss Julie.

Ger Olde Monnikhof - Set Designer

He has worked on many of GESTs productions including; Expectations, My Romantic History, This Wide Night, Contractions, Stones in His Pockets and After The End.

Ger has worked as a freelance set designer since the late eighties and has his base at Theater Trixter, Gothenburg/Sweden.

He trained at the Royal Art Academy in The Hague, Netherlands in interior design, but has also been working with architecture as well as snow and ice sculpting.

As a set designer he has been working in various fields like theatre, opera and musicals.

His most recent credits include set designs for The wedding of Figaro (Mozart) and L'elisird'amore (Donazetti) at Folkoperan in Stockholm, Breaking the waves (von Trier/Nielsen) at Folkteatern in Gothenburg and for Trixter Monomania.

Mia Kjellkvist- Production Manager

Mia is GESTs Production Manager and has been working for GEST since August 2015.She has a MA in Theatre Studies and Cultural Administration from Lund University. Mia also studied acting at Katrinebergs Folkhögskola.She has also previously worked at YMCA Gothenburg with theatre, art and music projects for young people. Mia has been a core member of another independent theatre in Gothenburg, Teater Eksem. She has been involved in many international projects with countries such as England, China and India.

Lina Ikse - Photographer

Lina is a photographer and a member of GEST. Lina has taken most of GESTs production photos and poster images. After living and working as a photographer in London for 13 years, she moved back home to Gothenburg Sweden in 2005.She works with portraits, theatre and interiors and often has personal projects on the go. Lina is a member of the Association of Professional Photographers, Svenska Fotografers Förbund, and is happily based in a studio in Konstepidemins creative and peaceful environment. For more information: www.linaikse.com

Support GEST

As a non-profit organisation we're always dependent on government public funding and sponsorship.By supporting us you will help us continue bringing the best of contemporary British theatre to Sweden, performed in its original language. You can help us introduce some of the most talented playwrights, actors, directors and writers from the British Isles to a Swedish audience.

With your help we can continue to develop our international collaboration, our outreach program and to continue to take on new challenges and expand our creative borders.

GEST MERCHANDISENew! You can now support us by buying our very own GEST merchandise:

GEST hoodie: 600 krGEST T-shirts: 200 krGEST Tote bags: 100 kr

Our merchandise can be purchased at our box office when we have performances or by contacting us at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or 031-42 50 65.

BECOME A SPECIAL GUEST OF GESTWhen becoming a Special Guest of GEST you will get your own special name plaque permanently put on one of the seats inside the theatre, engraved with either your own name or the name of a loved one. You will also receive one of GESTs stylish hoodies. To become a special guest cost 2 000 kr.

In order to become a Special Guest of GEST please contact us at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or 031-42 50 65.

DONATIONSYou are of course also welcome to make a donation of your choice. Make the payment with the amount of your choice to Bankgiro 5750-2239. Mark it with your name and 'donation', or simply 'donation' if you prefer to be anonymous.